Room temperature production of graphene oxide with thermally labile oxygen functional groups for improved lithium ion battery fabrication and performance

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Author(s)
Qin, Jiadong
Zhang, Yubai
Lowe, Sean E
Jiang, Lixue
Ling, Han Yeu
Shi, Ge
Liu, Porun
Zhang, Shanqing
Zhong, Yu Lin
Zhao, Huijun
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2019
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Graphene oxide (GO) has drawn intense research interest over the past decade, contributing to remarkable progress in its relevant applications. The chemical production of GO, however, is challenged by destructive and slowly propagating oxidation, especially for large flake graphite. Herein, we report a simple but effective method to produce well-oxidized and less defective GO by chemically oxidizing commercially available expandable graphite at room temperature (25 °C). Compared to natural graphite with similar flake sizes, expandable graphite afforded faster complete oxidation under the same oxidizing conditions. In addition, ...
View more >Graphene oxide (GO) has drawn intense research interest over the past decade, contributing to remarkable progress in its relevant applications. The chemical production of GO, however, is challenged by destructive and slowly propagating oxidation, especially for large flake graphite. Herein, we report a simple but effective method to produce well-oxidized and less defective GO by chemically oxidizing commercially available expandable graphite at room temperature (25 °C). Compared to natural graphite with similar flake sizes, expandable graphite afforded faster complete oxidation under the same oxidizing conditions. In addition, chemical oxidation at room temperature, relative to that at higher temperatures (35 and 45 °C), resulted in a reduced defect concentration in GO. Furthermore, the GO derived from the oxidation of expandable graphite at room temperature exhibited superior electrical conductivity after mild thermal treatment at 150 °C. Considering the energy-saving in both GO synthesis and reduction, the low temperature GO conversion process can be easily integrated into many other electroconductive applications. As a proof of concept, we achieved a good LiFePO4 (without carbon-coating) cathode formulation with our GO, which contributed as a 2D binder (before annealing), and obtained a conductive cathode with improved capacity and high rate performance after mild thermal annealing at 150 °C.
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View more >Graphene oxide (GO) has drawn intense research interest over the past decade, contributing to remarkable progress in its relevant applications. The chemical production of GO, however, is challenged by destructive and slowly propagating oxidation, especially for large flake graphite. Herein, we report a simple but effective method to produce well-oxidized and less defective GO by chemically oxidizing commercially available expandable graphite at room temperature (25 °C). Compared to natural graphite with similar flake sizes, expandable graphite afforded faster complete oxidation under the same oxidizing conditions. In addition, chemical oxidation at room temperature, relative to that at higher temperatures (35 and 45 °C), resulted in a reduced defect concentration in GO. Furthermore, the GO derived from the oxidation of expandable graphite at room temperature exhibited superior electrical conductivity after mild thermal treatment at 150 °C. Considering the energy-saving in both GO synthesis and reduction, the low temperature GO conversion process can be easily integrated into many other electroconductive applications. As a proof of concept, we achieved a good LiFePO4 (without carbon-coating) cathode formulation with our GO, which contributed as a 2D binder (before annealing), and obtained a conductive cathode with improved capacity and high rate performance after mild thermal annealing at 150 °C.
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Journal Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
7
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Royal Society of Chemistry. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Materials Engineering
Interdisciplinary Engineering
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Energy & Fuels